Use of mineral mix supplements to modify the grazing patterns by cattle for the restoration of sub-alpine and alpine shrub-encroached grasslands

2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Probo ◽  
Alessandro Massolo ◽  
Michele Lonati ◽  
Derek W. Bailey ◽  
Alessandra Gorlier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cows ◽  
Control Site ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Gps Collars ◽  
Common System ◽  
Natural Grasslands ◽  
Vegetation Surveys ◽  
Alpine Shrub ◽  
Cattle Herds ◽  
Surrounding Areas

Throughout the last decades, agricultural abandonment in European mountain areas has caused changes in traditional livestock management with consequences for semi-natural grassland use and vegetation. In the Western Italian Alps, continuous extensive grazing has become the simplest and the most common system for managing large cattle herds. As a result, limited grazing in many rugged locations has led to an extensive shrub-encroachment of semi-natural grasslands in the sub-alpine and alpine belts. A study was conducted to assess if the provision of mineral mix supplements (MMS): (1) increases the use of steep and shrub-encroached locations by beef cows, and (2) helps restore meso-eutrophic grassland vegetation around supplement-deployment sites. During the summer grazing season, MMS were placed within 10 steep and shrub-encroached areas in two adjacent pastures (364 and 366 ha), and 12 cows were tracked with GPS collars. For each supplement site, a paired control site was identified, and vegetation surveys were performed in the surrounding areas of both sites. Placement of MMS increased the use of areas within 12 m of supplement locations compared with corresponding control areas. Cattle use of areas within 100 m of the MMS sites was also greater than expected by chance. The use by cattle, associated with trampling, grazing and faecal deposition, reduced the cover of shrubs and oligotrophic herbaceous species and increased the average nutrient N-value and forage pastoral value of the new vegetation types established around MMS sites 2 years after their use by cattle. Strategic placement of MMS appears to be a sustainable practice to restore sub-alpine and alpine shrub-encroached grasslands. Nevertheless these results must be considered preliminary as a longer period is needed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of this practice for the restoration of semi-natural grasslands.

scholarly journals Tuberculosis Epidemiology and Badger (Meles meles) Spatial Ecology in a Hot-Spot Area in Atlantic Spain

Pathogens ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pelayo Acevedo ◽  
Miguel Prieto ◽  
Pablo Quirós ◽  
Isabel Merediz ◽  
Lucía de Juan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Ecology ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Tuberculin Test ◽  
Meles Meles ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Gps Collars ◽  
Spot Area ◽  
Preferred Habitat ◽  
Cattle Herds

We provide a temporal overview (from 2012 to 2018) of the outcomes of tuberculosis (TB) in the cattle and badger populations in a hot-spot in Asturias (Atlantic Spain). We also study the badger’s spatial ecology from an epidemiological perspective in order to describe hazardous behavior in relation to TB transmission between cattle and badgers. Culture and single intradermal tuberculin test (SITT) were available for cattle as part of the National Program for the Eradication of TB. A field survey was also carried out in order to determine the paddocks and buildings used by each farm, and the information obtained was stored by using geographic information systems. Moreover, eighty-three badgers were submitted for necropsy and subsequent bacteriological studies. Ten badgers were also tracked, using global positioning system (GPS) collars. The prevalence of TB in cattle herds in the hot-spot increased from 2.2% in 2012 to 20% in 2016; it then declined to 0.0% in 2018. In contrast, the TB prevalence in badgers increased notably (from 5.55% in 2012–2015 to 10.64% in 2016–2018). Both cattle and badgers shared the same strain of Mycobacterium bovis. The collared badgers preferred paddocks used by TB-positive herds in spring and summer (when they were more active). The males occupied larger home ranges than the females (Khr95: males 149.78 ± 25.84 ha and females 73.37 ± 22.91 ha; Kcr50: males 29.83 ± 5.69 ha and females 13.59 ± 5.00 ha), and the home ranges were smaller in autumn and winter than in summer. The averages of the index of daily and maximum distances traveled by badgers were 1.88 ± (SD) 1.20 km and 1.99 ± 0.71 km, respectively. One of them presented a dispersive behavior with a maximum range of 18.3 km. The most preferred habitat was apple orchards in all seasons, with the exception of winter, in which they preferred pastures. Land uses and landscape structure, which have been linked with certain livestock-management practices, provide a scenario of great potential for badger–cattle interactions, thus enhancing the importance of the badgers’ ecology, which could potentially transmit TB back to cattle in the future.

The ecological context and consequences of colonisation of a site by bell miners (Manorina melanophrys)

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda J. Dare ◽  
Paul G. McDonald ◽  
Michael F. Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Control Site ◽  
Bird Diversity ◽  
Ecological Context ◽  
Limited Effect ◽  
Avian Abundance ◽  
Tree Dieback ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
Surrounding Areas ◽  
A Site ◽  
Causative Link

Bell miner (Manorina melanophrys) colonies are closely associated with decreased avian abundance and diversity and an apparently associated increase in psyllid abundance. However, a causative link between the presence of bell miners and increased psyllid abundance has yet to be established. We took advantage of the movement of bell miners into two new areas to investigate the ecological consequences of bell miner occupation on both avian and psyllid abundance. We monitored the number of bell miners and other avian species, using area searches, and psyllid abundance by monthly counts of lerp on leaves. Bell miner presence alone had limited effect on either bird diversity or abundance. However, when miners were also giving their distinctive ‘tink’ vocalisation, a significant decrease in avian abundance and diversity was observed. This evidence supports the hypothesis that ‘tink’ vocalisations are used by interspecific competitors to detect bell miner colonies. At the time of initial occupation, new sites did not have significantly elevated levels of psyllids compared with surrounding areas unoccupied by bell miners. Six months later one of the two newly occupied sites had significantly more Cardiaspina spp. than either the long-established colony or an unoccupied control site. In contrast, infestations of Glycaspis spp. remained significantly lower at both new sites when compared with the long-established colony, but equivalent to unoccupied areas. Given this, we conclude that bell miner occupation does not necessarily lead to an increase in psyllid abundance, characteristic of tree dieback in some colonies, and that a causative link between bell miner presence and declining tree health remains to be demonstrated.

scholarly journals A Low-Cost IoT-Based System to Monitor the Location of a Whole Herd

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 2298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Maroto-Molina ◽  
Jorge Navarro-García ◽  
Karen Príncipe-Aguirre ◽  
Ignacio Gómez-Maqueda ◽  
José E. Guerrero-Ginel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Wireless Data ◽  
Large Variability ◽  
Grazing Behavior ◽  
Positioning Systems ◽  
Gps Collars ◽  
Wireless Data Transmission ◽  
Commercial Farms ◽  
The Cost

Animal location technologies have evolved considerably in the last 60 years. Nowadays, animal tracking solutions based on global positioning systems (GPS) are commercially available. However, existing devices have several constraints, mostly related to wireless data transmission and financial cost, which make impractical the monitorization of all the animals in a herd. The main objective of this work is to develop a low-cost solution to enable the monitorization of a whole herd. An IoT-based system, which requires some animals of the herd being fitted with GPS collars connected to a Sigfox network and the rest with low-cost Bluetooth tags, has been developed. Its performance has been tested in two commercial farms, raising sheep and beef cattle, through the monitorization of 50 females in each case. Several collar/tag ratios, which define the cost per animal of the solution, have been simulated. Results demonstrate that a low collar/tag ratio enable the monitorization of a whole sheep herd. A larger ratio is needed for beef cows because of their grazing behavior. Nevertheless, the optimal ratio depends on the purpose of location data. Large variability has been observed for the number of hourly and daily messages from collars and tags. The system effectiveness for the monitorization of all the animals in a herd has been certainly proved.

scholarly journals Hypomagnesemia in beef cattle

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamín Doncel ◽  
Juan D. Puentes ◽  
Rubén D. Caffarena ◽  
Franklin Riet-Correa ◽  
Ricardo A. Costa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Reference Value ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Vitreous Humor ◽  
Presumptive Diagnosis ◽  
Natural Grasslands ◽  
Good Body Condition ◽  
High Concentrations

ABSTRACT: Hypomagnesemia is a major cause of death in grazing beef cows in countries of the Southern Hemisphere such as Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. Here we review the literature on hypomagnesemia in beef cattle and describe an outbreak in Uruguay. The disease occurred in late autumn, affecting 6 to 11-year-old Aberdeen Angus and Hereford x Aberdeen Angus lactating multiparous cows in good body condition, grazing on natural grasslands that had been improved by fertilization and sowing of seeds of ryegrass and oat. Approximately 40 out of 225 cows were affected and 24 (10.7%) died. A presumptive diagnosis of hypomagnesemia was established based on sudden death, acute neuromuscular clinical signs, epidemiological data, and the response to Mg administration. The diagnosis was confirmed by detecting low Mg concentrations in serum (0.47-0.57mmol/L), vitreous humor (0.47-0.80mmol/L), aqueous humor (0.66mmol/L) and cerebrospinal fluid (0.59mmol/L). The largest component of the diet corresponding to fast-growing and exuberant forages of ryegrass and oat had high concentrations of K (3.48%), N (4.38%) and P (0.94%), suggesting secondary hypomagnesemia. In addition, the K/(Ca+Mg) ratio was 2.38 in forages of ryegrass and oat (reference value: 2.2), and 0.15 in the soil (reference value: 0.09), which represent risk factors for hypomagnesemia. In conclusion, hypomagnesemia is an important cause of mortality in beef cattle grazing improved natural grasslands in Uruguay and it can be easily prevented by correct seasonal Mg supplementation.

scholarly journals Climate-Driven Holocene Migration of Forest-Steppe Ecotone in the Tien Mountains

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1139
Author(s):  
Ying Cheng ◽  
Hongyan Liu ◽  
Hongya Wang ◽  
Qian Hao ◽  
Yue Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Moisture Loss ◽  
Forest Belt ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Living Space ◽  
Mountain System ◽  
Vegetation Surveys ◽  
History Of ◽  
Wet Climate

Climate change poses a considerable threat to the forest-steppe ecotone in arid mountain areas. However, it remains unclear how the forest-steppe ecotone responds to climate change due to the limitation of the traditional pollen assemblages, which greatly limits the understanding of the history of the forest-steppe ecotone. Here, we examined the Tien Mountains, the largest mountain system in the world’s arid regions, as a case study to explore the migration of the forest-steppe ecotone using the pollen taxa diversity, by combining modern vegetation surveys, surface pollen and two fossil pollen sequences—in the mid-elevation forest belt (Sayram Lake) and in the low-elevation desert belt (Aibi Lake). We found that the forest-steppe migration followed Holocene climate change. Specifically, the forest belt where Picea schrenkiana Fisch. & C.A.Mey. dominates has a very low pollen taxa diversity, characterized by high richness and low evenness, which plays a key role in mountainous diversity. By detecting the diversity change of the deposition sites, we found that in coping with the warm and wet middle Holocene, the forest belt expanded and widened as the observed diversities around the two lakes were very low, thus the forest-steppe ecotone moved downward accordingly. During the early and late Holocene, the forest belt and the forest-steppe ecotone moved upward under a warm and dry climate, and downward under a cold and wet climate, as there was a reduced forest belt effect on, or contribution to, the sites, and the observed diversities were high. Moisture loss may pose the greatest threat to the narrow forest-steppe ecotone, considering the climatic niche space and the limited living space for humidity-sensitive taxa. This study highlights that temperature and moisture co-influence the forest belt change, which further determines the position migration of the forest-steppe ecotone.

Environmental constraints in habitat use by free-ranging beef-cattle in the Natural Park of Gorbeia (Basque Country)

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 ◽  
pp. 133-133
Author(s):  
N. Mandaluniz ◽  
L. M. Oregui
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Habitat Management ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Basque Country ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Free Range ◽  
Natural Park ◽  
Cattle Herds ◽  
Free Ranging

Mountain pastures utilisation in the Basque Country by means of a free-range mixed-grazing system has suffered substantial changes during the last decades. Beef cattle production has increased partially favoured by CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) measures, mainly milk-quotas and the extensification premium. The use of mountain areas is constrained by both biotic and abiotic factors in cattle (Senft et al, 1985; Bailey, 1995) which are necessary to be identified in order to improve habitat management of these mountain zones, usually declared as protected areas. The objective of the current work was to study the influence of physical factors on the behaviour of beef-cattle herds managed in a transhumant free-range system.

scholarly journals Influence of Manure on Productivity and Quality of a Meadow Of Festuca Rubra L.

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana MOREA ◽  
Ioan ROTAR ◽  
Florin PÄ‚CURAR ◽  
Anca BOGDAN
Keyword(s):  
Grassland Management ◽  
Organic Fertilizers ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Apuseni Mountains ◽  
Fodder Quality ◽  
Natural Grasslands ◽  
Mountain Meadows ◽  
The One ◽  
Current Concerns ◽  
Short Time

Researchers current concerns are to maintain the high floristic biodiversity, enabling sustainable development of natural grasslands in mountain areas. Large surfaces of the Apuseni Mountains are fertilized with organic fertilization (these is the only way of fertilization used by grasslands owners), fact which causes probably the high phytodiversity specific for these area. Grassland management is the one who creates and maintains a high phytodiversity, being able also to reduce it drastically in a short time. This involves research at various levels of intensification in order to determine how productivity and phytodiversity of grassland evolves over time. The first studies conducted in the Apuseni Mountains were aimed to increase production and fodder quality through various technological methods (fertilization with organic fertilizers, amendment, overseeding etc.), without taking into account the specific biodiversity of phytocenosis. Currently the problem is changing radically and in all research actions undertaken is not overlooked the environmental dimension. Through this experience we plan to examine how different doses of organic fertilizers influencing productivity and fitodiversitatea of mountain meadows.

scholarly journals Foraging behaviour and occupation pattern of beef cows on a heterogeneous pasture in the Swiss Alps

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 84-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Meisser ◽  
C. Deléglise ◽  
F. Freléchoux ◽  
A. Chassot ◽  
B. Jeangros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Trollius Europaeus ◽  
Veratrum Album ◽  
Selection Processes ◽  
Vegetation Surveys

In the Alps, many summer pastures are under-used due to the decreasing number of livestock. Optimizing the grazing management of heterogeneous pastures implies a better understanding of foraging habits of cattle. The aim of this study was to precise the relationships between cattle behaviour and the characteristics of the vegetation. The experiment was carried out on a pasture encroached by shrubs (mainly Alnus viridis) and composed of four contrasted vegetation units at 1800 m a.s.l. Four beef cows were monitored in a paddock of 2.9 ha by Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) during three rotations, in order to analyze the spatial and temporal occupation pattern. The open grasslands and, to a lesser extent, the tall herb community were significantly more visited than expected if cattle had foraged at random. The shrubby areas were far less visited than expected at random. The monitoring also revealed differences across rotations. Vegetation surveys were also performed to determine the specific contribution and the grazing frequency of the encountered plant species. The most eaten herbaceous plants were not necessarily those known to be the most palatable, even if graminoids were more selected than other plants. Leontodon hispidus, Agrostis capillaris, Festuca rubra, and Luzula sylvatica were the most selected species, whereas Veratrum album and Trollius europaeus were completely avoided. The consumed forage was of better quality than the forage collected at random and its nutrient content showed less variability and remained more constant over the three rotations. The results highlight that the selection processes exerted by cattle are important. They occur at different levels (species, vegetation type, in time) and confirm that an integrative approach is necessary for improving the understanding of cattle foraging behaviour in heterogeneous mountain pastures.  

scholarly journals Implementation of a rotational grazing system with large paddocks changes the distribution of grazing cattle in the south-western Italian Alps

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Probo ◽  
Michele Lonati ◽  
Marco Pittarello ◽  
Derek W. Bailey ◽  
Matteo Garbarino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Western Alps ◽  
The South ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Alpine Pastures ◽  
Vegetation Surveys ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Steep Slopes

Continuous grazing systems (CGS) are still widely used for managing cattle herds in the south-western Alps. Recently, Pastoral Plans have been used as a policy tool to improve grazing management. Rotational grazing systems (RGS) with large paddocks (i.e. ~100 ha on average) and stocking rate adjustments based on recommended levels calculated from vegetation surveys have been implemented through Pastoral Plans to improve the uniformity of grazing. A case study was conducted to compare grazing distribution patterns of beef cows during the summer under CGS and RGS on sub-alpine and alpine pastures within Val Troncea Natural Park in the south-western Alps of Italy. Cows were tracked with global positioning system collars at 15-min intervals under both CGS and RGS. Cattle distribution patterns were aggregated in both grazing systems, but in the RGS concentration of grazing was less clustered and the selection of vegetation communities was more homogeneous than in CGS. Under CGS, cows were attracted (P < 0.05) to salt placements and areas with high forage pastoral values, and they avoided (P < 0.05) steep slopes. In contrast, cows under RGS were not influenced by (P > 0.05) high pastoral value, and they avoided areas farther from water (P < 0.05). Similar to CGS, cows under RGS were attracted (P < 0.05) to salt and avoided (P < 0.05) steep slopes. In the RGS, cows used steeper slopes and areas farther from salt and water in the second half of the grazing period within a paddock compared with the first half, which likely explains the improvement in uniformity of grazing with RGS. Our findings indicate that Pastoral Plans that combine appropriate stocking levels and RGS are valid policy and management tools that have the potential to improve grazing distribution on rough sub-alpine and alpine pastures in the south-western Alps.

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